Tritylated ethers

ABSTRACT

A compound having formula (Ph 3 C) m Ar(OR) n , wherein Ph represents a phenyl group, Ar is an aromatic ring system having from six to twenty carbon atoms, R is C 1 -C 18  alkyl or C 7 -C 12  aralkyl, m is one or two, and n is an integer from one to four.

This invention relates to new compounds useful in a method for marking liquid hydrocarbons and other fuels and oils.

Marking of petroleum hydrocarbons and other fuels and oils with various kinds of chemical markers is well known in the art. A variety of compounds have been used for this purpose, as well as numerous techniques for detection of the markers, e.g., absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,858,373 discloses the use of a variety of organic compounds for use in marking liquid hydrocarbons and other fuels and oils. However, there is always a need for additional marker compounds for these products. Combinations of markers can be used as digital marking systems, with the ratios of amounts forming a code for the marked product. Additional compounds useful as fuel and lubricant markers would be desirable to maximize the available codes. The problem addressed by this invention is to find additional markers useful for marking liquid hydrocarbons and other fuels and oils.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a compound having formula (Ph₃C)_(m)Ar(OR)_(n), wherein Ph represents a phenyl group, Ar is an aromatic ring system having from six to twenty carbon atoms, R is C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₇-C₁₂ aralkyl, m is one or two, and n is an integer from one to four.

The present invention further provides a method for marking a petroleum hydrocarbon or a liquid biologically derived fuel; said method comprising adding to said petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel at least one compound having formula (Ph₃C)_(m)Ar(OR)_(n), wherein Ph represents a phenyl group, Ar is an aromatic ring system having from six to twenty carbon atoms, R is C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₇-C₁₂ aralkyl, m is one or two, and n is an integer from one to four.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Percentages are weight percentages (wt %) and temperatures are in ° C., unless specified otherwise. Concentrations are expressed either in parts per million (“ppm”) calculated on a weight/weight basis, or on a weight/volume basis (mg/L); preferably on a weight/volume basis. The term “petroleum hydrocarbon” refers to products having a predominantly hydrocarbon composition, although they may contain minor amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus; petroleum hydrocarbons include crude oils as well as products derived from petroleum refining processes; they include, for example, crude oil, lubricating oil, hydraulic fluid, brake fluid, gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, jet fuel and heating oil. Marker compounds of this invention can be added to a petroleum hydrocarbon or a liquid biologically derived fuel; examples of the latter are biodiesel fuel, ethanol, butanol, ethyl tert-butyl ether or mixtures thereof. A substance is considered a liquid if it is in the liquid state at 20° C. A biodiesel fuel is a biologically derived fuel containing a mixture of fatty acid alkyl esters, especially methyl esters. Biodiesel fuel typically is produced by transesterification of either virgin or recycled vegetable oils, although animal fats may also be used. An ethanol fuel is any fuel containing ethanol, in pure form, or mixed with petroleum hydrocarbons, e.g., “gasohol.” An “alkyl” group is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having from one to twenty-two carbon atoms in a linear or branched arrangement. Substitution on alkyl groups of one or more hydroxy or alkoxy groups is permitted. Preferably, alkyl groups are saturated and unsubstituted. An “aryl” group is a substituent derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon compound. An aryl group has a total of from six to twenty ring atoms, unless otherwise specified, and has one or more rings which are separate or fused. Substitution on aryl groups of one or more alkyl or alkoxy groups is permitted. An “aralkyl” group is an “alkyl” group substituted by an “aryl” group. Preferably, the compounds of this invention contain elements in their naturally occurring isotopic proportions.

Ar is an aromatic ring system having from six to twenty carbon atoms and whose substituents include Ph₃C and OR groups, preferably one in which the only substituents are Ph₃C and OR groups. Preferably, Ar is a C₆-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl aromatic ring system. Preferably, Ar is benzene, naphthalene, biphenyl, phenyl ether, diphenylmethane or one of the preceding systems substituted with alkyl and/or alkoxy groups; preferably benzene. Preferably, n is from one to three, preferably two or three, preferably two. Preferably, R is C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₇-C₁₀ aralkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₆ alkyl or C₇-C₉ aralkyl, preferably C₃-C₁₂ alkyl or C₇-C₉ aralkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₆ alkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, preferably C₃-C₁₂ alkyl, preferably C₃-C₁₀ alkyl.

Preferably, the compound of this invention is represented by formula (I)

-   wherein R is C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₈ alkyl, preferably     C₂-C₁₆ alkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, preferably C₃-C₁₂ alkyl,     preferably C₃-C₁₀ alkyl.

Preferably, the compound of this invention is represented by formula (II)

-   wherein R is C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₈ alkyl, preferably     C₂-C₁₆ alkyl, preferably C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, preferably C₃-C₁₂ alkyl,     preferably C₃-C₁₀ alkyl.

In using the compounds of this invention as markers, preferably the minimum amount of each compound added to a liquid to be marked is at least 0.01 ppm, preferably at least 0.02 ppm, preferably at least 0.05 ppm, preferably at least 0.1 ppm, preferably at least 0.2 ppm. Preferably, the maximum amount of each marker is 50 ppm, preferably 20 ppm, preferably 15 ppm, preferably 10 ppm, preferably 5 ppm, preferably 2 ppm, preferably 1 ppm, preferably 0.5 ppm. Preferably, the maximum total amount of marker compounds is 100 ppm, preferably 70 ppm, preferably 50 ppm, preferably 30 ppm, preferably 20 ppm, preferably 15 ppm, preferably 12 ppm, preferably 10 ppm, preferably 8 ppm, preferably 6 ppm, preferably 4 ppm, preferably 3 ppm, preferably 2 ppm, preferably 1 ppm. Preferably, a marker compound is not detectable by visual means in the marked petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel, i.e., it is not possible to determine by unaided visual observation of color or other characteristics that it contains a marker compound. Preferably, a marker compound is one that does not occur normally in the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel to which it is added, either as a constituent of the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel itself, or as an additive used therein.

Preferably, the marker compounds have a log P value of at least 3, where P is the 1-octanol/water partition coefficient. Preferably, the marker compounds have a log P of at least 4, preferably at least 5. Log P values which have not been experimentally determined and reported in the literature can be estimated using the method disclosed in Meylan, W. M & Howard, P. H., J. Pharm. Sci., vol. 84, pp. 83-92 (1995). Preferably the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel is a petroleum hydrocarbon, biodiesel fuel or ethanol fuel; preferably a petroleum hydrocarbon or biodiesel fuel; preferably a petroleum hydrocarbon; preferably crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, jet fuel or heating oil; preferably gasoline.

Preferably, the marker compounds are detected by at least partially separating them from constituents of the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel using a chromatographic technique, e.g., gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, paper chromatography, adsorption chromatography, affinity chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, ion exchange and molecular exclusion chromatography. Chromatography is followed by at least one of: (i) mass spectral analysis, and (ii) FTIR. Identities of the marker compounds preferably are determined by mass spectral analysis. Preferably, mass spectral analysis is used to detect the marker compounds in the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel without performing any separation. Alternatively, marker compounds may be concentrated prior to analysis, e.g., by distilling some of the more volatile components of a petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel.

Preferably, more than one marker compound is present. Use of multiple marker compounds facilitates incorporation into the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel of coded information that may be used to identify the origin and other characteristics of the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel. The code comprises the identities and relative amounts, e.g., fixed integer ratios, of the marker compounds. One, two, three or more marker compounds may be used to form the code. Marker compounds according to this invention may be combined with markers of other types, e.g., markers detected by absorption spectrometry, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,575; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0250469 and EP App. Pub. No. 1,479,749. Marker compounds are placed in the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel directly, or alternatively, placed in an additives package containing other compounds, e.g., antiwear additives for lubricants, detergents for gasoline, etc., and the additives package is added to the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel.

The compounds of this invention may be prepared by methods known in the art, e.g., alkylation of phenols or polyhydroxyaromatics with trityl halide or alcohol, followed by alkylation with organic halides in the presence of base. For example, tritylated phenolic ethers may be prepared according to the following reaction scheme,

-   wherein M is one or two and N is 1 to 4.

EXAMPLES

Typical mono-tritylated phenol synthesis procedure is illustrated by the following example:

-   4-Tritylbenzene-1,2-diol [6331-97-1] (TritCatp): A 1 L 3-neck flask     was equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a reflux condenser with     nitrogen blanket, and a heating mantle with a temperature controller     and a thermocouple. The flask was charged with 78.20 grams (0.30     moles) of trityl alcohol, 39.39 grams (0.36 moles) of catechol, and     250 mL of glacial acetic acid. The mixture was stirred under     nitrogen while heating to about 80° C. A clear amber solution was     obtained. To this solution were added 16.73 grams (0.06 moles) of     trityl chloride in one portion. The chloride dissolved quickly. The     mixture was brought to reflux. After about 30 minutes at reflux,     solids began to separate out. Reflux was continued for another 5     hours before cooling to room temperature. The reaction mixture was     filtered, and the grey solids were washed on the filter with several     portions of acetic acid. The product was dried—first in air and     finally in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 2 hours. The yield of product     was 92.0 grams (72.5%), having a melting point of 245-248° C. The     structure was confirmed by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and GC/MS analyses.     Typical bis-tritylated phenol synthesis procedure is illustrated by     the following example: -   4,6-Ditritylbenzene-1,3-diol (Bis-Trit-Res): A 1 L 3-neck flask was     equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a reflux condenser with nitrogen     blanket, and a heating mantle with a temperature controller and a     thermocouple. The flask was charged with 12.39 grams (0.0475 moles)     of trityl alcohol, 15.03 grams (0.054 moles) of trityl chloride,     5.53 grams (0.05 moles) of resorcinol, and with 50 mL of glacial     acetic acid. The mixture was stirred under nitrogen while heating to     reflux. At about 80° C., a clear amber solution was obtained. Solids     began to separate out after about 30 minutes. Reflux was continued     for a total of about 34 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to     room temperature, then it was filtered. The white solids were washed     on the filter with several portions of acetic acid. The product was     dried—first in air for about 2 hours, and then in a vacuum oven at     50° C. for 3 hours. The yield of product was 15.27 grams (95%),     having a melting point of 272-274° C. The structure was confirmed by     IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and GC/MS analyses.     Typical mono-tritylated phenol ether synthesis procedure is     illustrated by the following example: -   ((3,4-Bis(hexyloxy)phenyl)methanetrityl)tribenzene (BHex-TCatp): A     100 mL 3-neck flask was equipped with a magnetic stirrer, a reflux     condenser with nitrogen blanket, and a heating mantle with a     temperature controller and a thermocouple. The flask was charged     with 3.52 grams (0.01 moles) of 4-tritylbenzene-1,2-diol, 1.32 grams     (0.02 moles, 85 wt. %) of potassium hydroxide pellets, and with 25     mL of dimethylsulfoxide. The mixture was stirred under nitrogen     while heating to 105° C. After about 20 minutes, all of the     potassium hydroxide had dissolved, and the mixture was cooled to     70° C. 1-Bromohexane (3.30 grams, 0.02 moles) was then added in one     portion. An exotherm to about 88° C. was observed. After the     exotherm subsided, the reaction mixture was maintained at 75° C. for     about 1.5 hours. A sample withdrawn for GPC analysis at this point     showed no remaining tritylated phenol, indicating that the reaction     was completed. The reaction mixture was cooled to <50° C. and was     poured into 500 mL of water. Solids precipitated. After stirring at     room temperature for about 1.5 hours, the mixture was filtered, and     the beige solids were washed on the filter with several portions of     water, then they were air-dried. The yield of product was 3.35 grams     (64%), having a melting point of 75-77° C. The structure was     confirmed by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and GC/MS analyses.

The filtrate from above was milky, and contained additional product which could have been isolated by extraction. In those cases in which, upon quenching the reaction mixture in water, the product separated as an oil, extraction with ethyl ether was used in place of filtration.

Typical bis-tritylated phenol ether synthesis procedure is illustrated by the following example:

-   ((4,6-Bis(hexyloxy)-1,3-phenylene)bis(methanetrityl))hexabenzene     (BHex-BTRes): A 100 mL 3-neck flask was equipped with a magnetic     stirrer, a reflux condenser with nitrogen blanket, and a heating     mantle with a temperature controller and a thermocouple. The flask     was charged with 5.95 grams (0.01 moles) of     4,6-ditritylbenzene-1,3-diol (Bis-Trit-Res), 1.32 grams (0.02 moles,     85 wt. %) of potassium hydroxide pellets, and with 25 mL of     dimethylsulfoxide. The mixture was stirred under nitrogen while     heating to 105° C. After about 20 minutes, all of the potassium     hydroxide had dissolved, and the mixture was cooled to 70° C.     1-Bromohexane (3.30 grams, 0.02 moles) was then added in one     portion. An exotherm to about 88° C. was observed. After the     exotherm subsided, the reaction mixture was maintained at 75° C. for     about 1.5 hours. A sample withdrawn for GPC analysis at this point     showed no remaining tritylated phenol, indicating that the reaction     was completed. The reaction mixture was cooled to <50° C. and was     poured into 500 mL of water. Solids precipitated. After stirring at     room temperature for about 1.5 hours, the mixture was filtered, and     the beige solids were washed on the filter with several portions of     water, then they were air-dried. The yield of product was 4.37 grams     (84%), having a melting point of 164-166° C. The structure was     confirmed by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and GC/MS analyses. -   Using the above procedure, the following tritylated catechol ethers     were prepared:

TABLE 1 Synthesis Data for Tritylated Catechol Ethers % Yield MP, ° C. Mono-Tritylated Catechol Ethers: R = n-C₄H₉ 77.4  79-80.5 n-C₅H₁₁ 92.5 (oil) n-C₆H₁₃ 64 75-77 n-C₇H₁₅ 88 67-69 n-C₈H₁₇ 79.7 58-62 Bis-Tritylated Resorcinol Ethers: R = n-C₆H₁₃ 94 272-274

TABLE 2 Stability and Extractability* data for Fuel Marker Candidate BHex-TCatp Internal Marker Standard area Sample Area % % C30 ratio Marker % Change % std sample 292845 347044 0.84 100.00 0.00 5% NaOH 284966 347629 0.82 97.15 −2.85 50% NaOH 300708 354885 0.85 100.42 0.42 5% H₂SO₄ 300688 353739 0.85 100.73 0.73 98% H₂SO₄ 166305 362121 0.46 54.43 −45.57 2% Charcoal 294103 347771 0.85 100.22 0.22 5% bleach 295119 349006 0.85 100.21 0.21 2% Metal 288374 346719 0.83 98.57 −1.43 specs *Test Protocols: 2000 mg/kg solution with internal standard was made in xylenes, then dosed with 5% by weight of 5% NaOH, 50% NaOH, 5% sulfuric acid and 98% sulfuric acid. It was also tested with 2% charcoal 5% bleach and 2% metal specs by wt/wt. GC Sensitivity and Repeatability Data for BHex-TCatp

-   Method Evaluation for BHex-TCatp in Diesel 2:

Stock SubStock Stock (mg/ml) (ug/ml) BHex-TCatp 0.26 5.11

-   6.39 mg in 25 ml DCM, 0.5 ml Stock in 25 ml Diesel

Standard 1 2 3 4 5 Substock (ul) 200 400 600 800 1000 BHex-TCatp(ug/L) 102 204 307 409 511 Linearity and Accuracy:

Conc Area Conc. % Standard (ppb) (520 + 443) (ppb) Recovery 1 102 52537 101.9 99.7 1 102 50989 98.9 96.7 2 204 102479 198.5 97.1 2 204 107034 207.3 101.4 3 307 159596 309.0 100.7 3 307 161848 313.4 102.2 4 409 213638 413.5 101.1 4 409 212133 410.6 100.4 5 511 263991 511.0 100.0 5 511 259911 503.1 98.4 Repeatability and Accuracy:

Concentration 307 ppb Conc. % Rep Area (ppb) Recovery 1 155936 301.9 98.4 2 155981 302.0 98.5 3 157936 305.8 99.7 4 157497 304.9 99.4 5 152073 294.5 96.0 6 157354 304.7 99.3 Avg. 156130 302.3 98.6 Std Dev 2152 4.16 1.36 RSD 1.38 1.38 1.38 Notes: 1. SIM: 520 + 443 2. Solvent: commercial diesel fuel 3. Method: AGILENT DB-35 - 15 meter × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm sample size = 3 μL flow rate = 1.5 mL/min initial temp = 100 C. rate 1 = 20 C./min final temp 1 = 280 C. hold = 10 min rate 2 = 20 C./min final temp 2 = 340 C. hold = 6 min inlet temp = 280 C. Oven: 100-20 C./min-280(10)-20 C./min-340(4), 3 μl, Viscosity delay: 1 sec. Solvent delay: 18 min Split open: 16 min Plotting Area (y) against concentration (x) from the linearity data above gave a straight line with equation y = 516.9259x + 135.9, with R² = 0.9991. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for marking a petroleum hydrocarbon or a liquid biologically derived fuel; said method comprising adding to said petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel at least one compound having formula (Ph₃C)_(m)Ar(OR)_(n), wherein Ph represents a phenyl group, Ar is an aromatic ring system having from six to twenty carbon atoms, R is C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₇-C₁₀ aralkyl, m is one or two, and n is an integer from one to four, wherein each compound having formula (Ph₃C)_(m)Ar(OR)_(n)is present at a level from 0.01 ppm to 20 ppm.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which Ar is a C₆-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl aromatic ring system.
 3. The method of claim 2 in which n is an integer from one to three.
 4. The method of claim 3 in which R is C₂-C₁₈ alkyl.
 5. The method of claim 4 in which Ar is a benzene ring system, n is two, and R is C₃-C₁₂ alkyl. 